In a Moroccan magazine published yesterday shortly before the bombing attacks, a pro-Al Qaeda Islamozoid leader called for globalizing the jihad. (Hat tip: Trevor Stanley.)

“After September 11 (2001), the jihad (holy war) has become open everywhere,” Abu Seif al-Islam, whose movement is considered sympathetic to terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, told the Saudi-owned weekly Al-Majallah referring to the suicide hijackings in the United States.

Asked about the possibility of bin Laden’s group al-Qaeda striking against Jews in Morocco, Abu Seif replied: “Morocco is at the heart of the conflict because it is impossible to target the ‘Crusaders’ in their homes and to exclude Morocco”.

One of the targets in the attacks which left 41 dead on Friday night was a Jewish centre.

“Henceforth the battle is global. I think that when the conditions are right the al-Qaeda organisation will not hesitate” to hit Morocco.

“The current tendency is not to let the enemy feel safe anywhere he may be,” Abu Seif added, recalling that “the Sheikh bin Laden named Morocco in his last message.”

Muslim organizations CAIR and the American Muslim Council immediately issued statements condemning this incitement to violence.